Caponizing instrument.



G'. BEUOY.

G APONIZING INSTRUMENT. `APPLIQAT10N FILED ooT.a,191L

1,925,363. PatentedMay 7,1912.

` 600W@ ezlay, I.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE BEUOY, OF CEDAR VALE, KANSAS.

GAPONIZING- INSTRUMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen Brauer, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Vale, in the county of Chautauqua and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Caponizing Instrun'ients, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the acconipanying drawings.

This invention relates to caponizing instri'iments and has for its object to provide an instrument which may be` easily and quickly operated to hold the ribs of the fowl in spaced relation so as to permitfree access to the parts which are to be removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an instrument of the above described character which is so constructed that it may be used bot-h as a spreader and as a testicle remover Still another object of the invention is to provide a caponizing instrument which may be positioned between the ribs of the fowl and which need not be held by the operator after being so positioned, whereby the free use of both hands is permitted in the manipulation of the testicle remover.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a caponizing instrument constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view; Fig. 3 is an end view; and Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

The instrument embodied in the present invention is what is commonly known in the art as a spreader, though my specic improvements will admitof the use of the device as a testicle remover so that the necessity of employing a separate instrument for this purpose may be obyiated. The invention is, however, primarily adapted for forcing the ribs apart so as to permit of the insertion of the testicle remover through the incision in the side of the fowl and its free manipulation in the removal of the proper organs. The possibility of the cords slipping from the instrument or of being only partially severed or entirely missed is thus practically eliminated.

With the above end in view my improved Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 3, 1911.

member Patented May '7, '1912.

serial No. 652,512.

instrument comprises two primary elements,

designated in the acconniianying drawing by the nllunerals 5 and 6. The element 5 is provided with an offset end portion 7 and a handle portion 8. T he right angularly disposed connecting portion is coiled as indicated at 9 to provide a bearing or sleeve for the correspoi'iding portion 10 of the other of the primary elements 6. This latter element is also provided with a handle portion 11 and the longitudinally extending offset portion 12 which is opposed t-o the similar portion 7 of the member The angularly disposed intermediate port-ion 10 of t-he member 6 is loosely arranged in the coil 9 and is freely rotatable therein under the action of a spring 13, the convolutions of which are disposed between the turns of the coil 9. One end of this spring is fixed to the offset end portion 12 of the member G while the other end thereof engages against the inner side of the handle portion 8 of the This coiled spring normally tends to hold the offset end portions 7 and 12 in close engagement as shown in Fig. 3.

The extremities of the end portions 7 and 12 are disposed at right angles to the longitudinal plane of the instrument and in line with the coil 9 as clearly indicated at 14. These angular ends 14 are provided with the enlargements 15 upon their extreme ends and the inner opposed faces of t-he portions 14 are beveled in opposite direct-ions as shown at 16, the purpose of said enlargements and the beveled faces being more fully explained in the following description of the operation 'of the instrument- The ends of the handle portion S and 11 Vof the members 5 and 6 'are bent upon themselves to form linger-pieces 17 which are adapted to be engaged by the thumb and forenger of the operator to force the ends of the handles toward each other and open the other ends of the elements 5 and 6 which have the portions 4 formed thereon. Upon the handles 8 and 11 a wire link 18 is slidably arranged and is adapted to hold the handles together and prevent their separation under the action of the spring 13.

The operation involved in making a capon is well known to those skilled in the art and will therefore only be referred to in general terms.

The first step in order to reach the organs which are to be removed is the cutting of the outer skin of the fowl, the incision being made between the last two ribs on both sides. My improved spreader is inserted through the opening thus made in the side of the fowl, the ends 14 thereof being wholly disposed within the fowl and the enlargements 15 engaging under the two last ribs, said enlargement-s forming shoulders to prevent the accidental upward or outward movement of the end portions 14. The handles 8 and 11 are now forced together thus separating the end portions 14 of the members 5 and (3 and spreading the ribs apart. By properly adjusting the sliding link 1S, the portions 14 of the members are held against closing. As the ribs of different fowls offer different degrees of resistance, the adjustable slide will allow the operator to quickly adjust the spaced end portions 14 in accordance with the peculiarities of each particular bird or fowl so as not to break the ribs and at the same time hold them open to a sufficient extent to permit of the easy manipulation of the testicle remover and thus facilitate the completion of the operation.

By providing the beveled inner opposed faces 16 on the ends 14 of the instrument, the device may be used as a testicle remover, said beveled faces obviating the danger of grasping the spermatic'artery or cord. It will be understood that when the instrument is used for this purpose a separate spreader is employed to hold the ribs apart. Two of the instruments hereinbefore described would therefore form a complete set and furnish every device necessary to the performance of the operation.

Upon the successful completion of the operation, the link 18 is moved toward the pivotal connection of the members, 5 and 6 so that the angularly disposed ends 14 are brought together by the action of the spring 13. VThe instrument is then removed and the wound closed.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and manner of use of my improved caponizing instrument will be fully understood. rlhe device is of material assistance in performing this delicate operation upon the fowl and greatly aids in its success and as previously stated may be used with or without a separate testiele remover. The instrument may also be very easily and quickly manipulated and properly inserted in position. As the device comprises only two primary elements it will further be seen that the instrument can be manufactured at very small cost and is also extremely durable and efiicient in practical use.

lhile I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the various parts, it will be understood that the device is susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the essential feature or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. An instrument of the character described comprising two relatively movable rods each having one of their ends laterally extended at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the rod, said laterally extended portions of the rods having their opposed faces beveled in opposite directions and enlarge ments formed upon their extremities and on their outer faces, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2l An instrument of the character described comprising two rods, one of said rods being bent at right angles intermediate of its ends to provide a pivot and the other of said rods having a coil formed therein intermediate of its ends to receive said pivot, a coiled spring having its convolutions ai ranged between the turns of the coil of said rod and its end portions engaging with the respective rods on opposite sides of the pivot, said rods on one side of the pivot providing handles, a link slidable on said handles to hold the opposite end portions of the rods in separated relation, the extremities of said latter end portions of the rods being laterally extended, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflx my U5 Gouies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

